Sadly, there are only two more issues of this title after this one. Well, it's been fun; I know that Eric has been portrayed as the least likable character in comicdom, and that's been true for the most part, but every so often there's something very real about him, and I'll miss that.
It's the World War Hulk issue, which doesn't mean that there's a whole lot of Hulk in the book (although there are several pages of Ant-Man in the Hulk :)). It is interesting to see a bit of what happens on the ground during the whole WWH thing. Eric's hopeless attempt to help with the fight? Sure, he quits when things get too hard, but a few issues ago I don't think he would have even made the effort unless he saw the potential for a quick personal gain of some sort. (He's obviously trying to look good in front of Monstro, who he considers a friend, but that's a long way to go for some warm fuzzies.) Is that growth, or is it just increased confidence in the suit and its abilities? I have no idea.
You know, right now I don't think I'd necessarily call Eric entirely irredeemable. He's changed, in small ways, over time. Nothing to make him particularly sympathetic. But he does, surprisingly, seem to be gaining a tiny bit of self-awareness. What you see now that you didn't see at the very beginning is potential. Not heroic potential, but human potential. On the whole, Eric has always been able to act like a good guy when things are going well--it's when things get tough that it becomes apparent that he really, really isn't. In this issue, though, when Abigail tells him that she knows he is in love with her, he's shocked. And not, I don't think, because he didn't realize that she'd know (being vaguely telepathic and all) although I expect he probably didn't think of that--I think he didn't realize it. Could he be developing a bit of capacity for looking outside himself and his own interests? It wouldn't make him a better hero--plenty of villains can love, after all--but it might make him a better person in some small way.
Of course I could be wrong. I probably am. This book tends to go back and forth with regard to the state of Eric's soul--is he starting to develop a conscience? Maybe, maybe...nope. Will he do the right thing? Maybe, maybe...yes, but for the wrong reason. It's a fun read, and I really will miss it.
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